The Odigbo youths who converged on the palace of the town for the protest, also alleged that some powerful members of the Governor Rotimi Akeredolu-led administration planned to impose Nwamara, from Imo State, on them.
Specifically, the protesters declared that Nwamara is an Igbo associate of the wife of the state governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, and the plan to impose her ( Nwamayu) would not be permitted for the new LCDA.
Speaking on the development, one of the protesters and community leaders, Mr Femi Olafumiloye, said the alleged plan to impose an Igbo politician as caretaker chairman of the new LCDA would disturb peace in the community.
He said, “How can we start an LCDA with a total stranger as the first caretaker chairman? It is a passionate plea. They can rescind this decision. We cannot take it. Let our people be the chairman. How can an Igbo woman communicate with us.”
Another protester,.identified as Adeyemi, described the alleged imposition as an aberration in the politics of the community, declaring that the residents would not accept it.
He said, “Our king cannot go to council to take orders from someone who is not from here. If we refused to fight, our children will fight. Everybody must rise up to this. We are begging the wife of the governor that if there is any pronouncement to that regard, we have no other way. Our youths are prepared. We are fighting for what is legitimate.”
However, a former member of the House of Representatives and indigene of the community, Mr Mayowa Akinfolarin, urged the youths to be calm and that the matter would be resolved amicably.
“We have this historic antecedent of ensuring peace in our domain. We have told our youths to be peaceful. We are doing many things to ensure peace,” the former lawmaker stated.
Commenting on the matter, the monarch of Odigbo Kingdom, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, advised the youths to sheathe their swords in order to make relative peace, noting that unity remained a bedrock to the socioeconomic growth of any society.
The monarch urged those in government to do the needful so as not to cause anything that can jeopardise the existing peace being enjoyed by the residents of the community.
In her reaction, Nwamara claimed oblivion of the protest but said she had lived in the community for over 35 years and had made contributions to develop the community.
“I am a politician. Everything in life is opportunity. I did not know about any protests. I have lived in Odigbo for over 35 years. I have helped in community development. I am also hearing a rumour.”
The state House of Assembly had last week passed the LCDA Bill into law. The newly created LCDAs were created from the existing eighteen local governments in the state.
Prior to the passage of the bill, the Assembly had earlier organised a stakeholders meeting where the LCDA issues were discussed.
